BC Lions Roster Recap: Series of Signings, Two Defenders Return for 2024
Defense was clearly the focus for the BC Lions this week. They re-signed two defenders to the roster, and four of the five players they signed play on the defensive side of the ball. In all, the Lions inked seven new contracts:
LB Josh Woods (two-year extension)
DL Tibo Debaillie (one-year extension)
OL James Moore
DB Justin Ford
Woods returns after a career season in which he registered 54 total tackles, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown in 18 games. He originally signed with BC back in 2021, picking up just one tackle in two games that year before contributing 35 total tackles and two sacks in 17 games in 2022. At UCLA, Woods produced 111 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two pass deflections and one interception from 2015 to 2019.
Debaillie completed his second season with the Lions with 16 tackles. In 2022, he registered 20 defensive tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery in 18 games. He was selected in the third round of the 2021 CFL Global Draft by the Edmonton Elks playing in three games that same year.
DL Tipa Galeai is joining the BC Lions in 2024 following three seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
Galeai spent 2020 through 2022 with the Green Bay Packers, compiling 16 tackles and one sack in 13 appearances. At Utah State, he finished with a career total of 119 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and two interceptions in 25 games.
Motley was on the practice roster for BC late in the season after spending training camp with the Toronto Argonauts earlier in the year. He played in one game for the Calgary Stampeders in 2022, making two tackles. He also spent time on NFL rosters in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.
Moore played in nine games in the XFL last year with the Houston Roughnecks. In 2022, he secured a spot on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad and had a minicamp visit with the Seattle Seahawks. He played 21 collegiate games with Central Washington, earning First-Team GNAC All-Conference honors in 2017.
Adams did stints with multiple teams during his eight seasons in the NFL, the longest of which was spent with the Houston Texans (2018-2020). His NFL career numbers include 159 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Adams’ most recent stop was with the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL last year.
Ford attended minicamps with the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings in 2023 before signing with the USFL's Houston Gamblers in September. The team initially drafted him in the second round of the USFL College Rookie Draft last February. Ford played 28 games in college with Montana, racking up 84 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, 28 pass deflections and three fumble recoveries.
Only 12 players remain unsigned for the BC Lions and are set to become free agents come February 13.
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